Annonacin Exerts Antitumor Activity through Induction of Apoptosis and Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Inhibition

Overcoming multi drug resistance mediated by ABC transporters by a novel acetogenin- annonacin from Annona muricata L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR), mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the barriers to successful chemotherapy in colon cancer patients. Annona muricata L. (A.muricata), commonly known as soursop/Graviola, is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in treating diverse diseases including cancer. Phytochemicals of A.muricata (Annonaceous Acetogenins-AGEs) have been well-reported for their anti-cancer effects on various cancers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to examine the effect of AGEs in reversing MDR in colorectal cancer cells.

METHODS

Based on molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, the stability of annonacin upon P-gp was investigated. Further in vitro studies were carried in oxaliplatin-resistant human colon cancer cells (SW480R) to study the biological effect of annonacin, in reversing drug resistance in these cells.

RESULTS

Molecular docking and simulation studies have indicated that annonacin stably interacted at the drug binding site of P-gp. In vitro analysis showed that annonacin was able to significantly reduce the expression of P-gp by 2.56 folds. It also induced apoptosis in the drug-resistant colon cancer cells. Moreover, the intracellular accumulation of P-gp substrate (calcein-AM) was observed to increase in resistant cells upon treatment with annonacin.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that annonacin could inhibit the efflux of chemotherapeutic drugs mediated by P-gp and thereby help in reversing MDR in colon cancer cells. Further in vivo studies are required to decipher the underlying mechanism of annonacin in treating MDR cancers.

Laherradurin Inhibits Tumor Growth in an Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colorectal Cancer Model In Vivo

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasia in the world. Its mortality rate is high due to the lack of specific and effective treatments, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy, among other factors. The natural products in cancer are a primary source of bioactive molecules. In this research, we evaluated the antitumor activity of an acetogenin (ACG), laherradurin (LH), isolated from the Mexican medicinal plant Annona macroprophyllata Donn.Sm. in a CRC murine model. The CRC was induced by azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) in Balb/c mice and treated for 21 days with LH or cisplatin. This study shows for the first time the antitumor activity of LH in an AOM/DSS CRC model. The acetogenin diminished the number and size of tumors compared with cisplatin; the histologic studies revealed a recovery of the colon tissue, and the blood toxicity data pointed to less damage in animals treated with LH. The TUNEL assay indicated cell death by apoptosis, and the in vitro studies exhibited that LH inhibited cell migration in HCT116 cells. Our study provides strong evidence of a possible anticancer agent for CRC.

Ethanolic Extract from Seed Residues of Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Ameliorates Oxidative Stress Damage and Prevents Apoptosis in Murine Cell and Aging Animal Models

Hippophae rhamnoides L. has been widely used in research and application for almost two decades. While significant progress was achieved in the examination of its fruits and seeds, the exploration and utilization of its by-products have received relatively less attention. This study aims to address this research gap by investigating the effects and underlying mechanisms of sea buckthorn seed residues both in vitro and in vivo. The primary objective of this study is to assess the potential of the hydroalcoholic extract from sea buckthorn seed residues (HYD-SBSR) to prevent cell apoptosis and mitigate oxidative stress damage. To achieve this, an H2O2-induced B16F10 cell model and a D-galactose-induced mouse model were used. The H2O2-induced oxidative stress model using B16F10 cells was utilized to evaluate the cellular protective and reparative effects of HYD-SBSR. The results demonstrated the cytoprotective effects of HYD-SBSR, as evidenced by reduced apoptosis rates and enhanced resistance to oxidative stress alongside moderate cell repair properties. Furthermore, this study investigated the impact of HYD-SBSR on antioxidant enzymes and peroxides in mice to elucidate its reparative potential in vivo. The findings revealed that HYD-SBSR exhibited remarkable antioxidant performance, particularly at low concentrations, significantly enhancing antioxidant capacity under oxidative stress conditions. To delve into the mechanisms underlying HYD-SBSR, a comprehensive proteomics analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Additionally, a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and an Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway cluster analysis were performed to elucidate the functional roles of these DEPs. The outcomes highlighted crucial mechanistic pathways associated with HYD-SBSR, including the PPAR signaling pathway, fat digestion and absorption, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and cholesterol metabolism. The research findings indicated that HYD-SBSR, as a health food supplement, exhibits favorable effects by promoting healthy lipid metabolism, contributing to the sustainable and environmentally friendly production of sea buckthorn and paving the way for future investigations and applications in the field of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical research.

Natural products modulate cell apoptosis: a promising way for treating endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a prevalent epithelial malignancy in the uterine corpus's endometrium and myometrium. Regulating apoptosis of endometrial cancer cells has been a promising approach for treating EC. Recent in-vitro and in-vivo studies show that numerous extracts and monomers from natural products have pro-apoptotic properties in EC. Therefore, we have reviewed the current studies regarding natural products in modulating the apoptosis of EC cells and summarized their potential mechanisms. The potential signaling pathways include the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) mediated apoptotic pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mediated apoptotic pathway, NF-κB-mediated apoptotic pathway, PI3K/AKT/mTOR mediated apoptotic pathway, the p21-mediated apoptotic pathway, and other reported pathways. This review focuses on the importance of natural products in treating EC and provides a foundation for developing natural products-based anti-EC agents.

Acetogenins-Rich Fractions of Annona coriacea Suppress Human Glioblastoma Viability and Migration by Regulating Necroptosis and MMP-2 Activity In Vitro

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an incurable primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Resection, radiation therapy, and temozolomide (TMZ) are insufficient to increase survival, making the treatment limited. Thus, the search for more effective and specific treatments is essential, making plants a promising source for elucidating new anti-glioblastoma compounds. Accordingly, this study investigated the effects of four fractions of hexane and ethyl acetate extract of Annona coriacea Mart., enriched with acetogenins, against GBM cell lines. All four fractions were selectively cytotoxic to GBM cells when compared to TMZ. Moreover, A. coriacea fractions delayed cell migration; reduced cytoplasmic projections, the metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) activity; and induced morphological changes characteristic of necroptosis, possibly correlated with the increase in receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 and 3 (RIP-1 and RIP-3), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and the non-activation of cleaved caspase 8. The present findings reinforce that fractions of A. coriacea Mart. should be considered for more studies focusing treatment of GBM.

The use of African medicinal plants in cancer management

Cancer is the third leading cause of premature death in sub-Saharan Africa. Cervical cancer has the highest number of incidences in sub-Saharan Africa due to high HIV prevalence (70% of global cases) in African countries which is linked to increasing the risk of developing cervical cancer, and the continuous high risk of being infected with Human papillomavirus In 2020, the risk of dying from cancer amongst women was higher in Eastern Africa (11%) than it was in Northern America (7.4%). Plants continue to provide unlimited pharmacological bioactive compounds that are used to manage various illnesses, including cancer. By reviewing the literature, we provide an inventory of African plants with reported anticancer activity and evidence supporting their use in cancer management. In this review, we report 23 plants that have been used for cancer management in Africa, where the anticancer extracts are usually prepared from barks, fruits, leaves, roots, and stems of these plants. Extensive information is reported about the bioactive compounds present in these plants as well as their potential activities against various forms of cancer. However, information on the anticancer properties of other African medicinal plants is insufficient. Therefore, there is a need to isolate and evaluate the anticancer potential of bioactive compounds from other African medicinal plants. Further studies on these plants will allow the elucidation of their anticancer mechanisms of action and allow the identification of phytochemicals that are responsible for their anticancer properties. Overall, this review provides consolidated and extensive information not only on diverse medicinal plants of Africa but on the different types of cancer that these plants are used to manage and the diverse mechanisms and pathways that are involved during cancer alleviation.

Increasing the effect of annonacin using nanodiamonds to inhibit breast cancer cells growth in rats (Rattus norvegicus)-Induced breast cancer

Background

Annonaceous acetogenins have been reported to have anti-cancer properties but low viability. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potency of nanodiamonds to be employed as a carrier of annonacin to help increase its viability and inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.

Methods

The annonacin was coupled with nanodiamond and characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, FTIR, SEM, and PSA, and determined their stability and drug release. A cell growth inhibition assay and cell migration assay was performed using the breast cancer MCF7 and T747D cell lines, and in vivo analysis was performed in rats (Rattus norvegicus). MCF7 and T747D cells were treated with 12.5 μg/mL annonacin coupled with nanodiamonds for 24 and 48 h and further analyzed by MTT, cell migration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. Twenty-five female rats were divided into five groups. Breast cancer was induced using two intraperitoneal doses of N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) (50 and 30 mg/kg body weight). Annonacin coupled with nanodiamonds was administered by intraperitoneal injection (17.5 mg/kg body weight) for 5 weeks, one injection per 3 days.

Results

Administration of annonacin coupled with nanodiamonds significantly reduced MCF7 cell growth and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The in vivo study showed that administration of annonacin coupled with nanodiamonds significantly reduced PI3KCA levels and increased p53 expression, reduced cancer antigen-15-3 (CA-15-3) levels in serum, increased caspase-3 expression, reduced Ki-67 levels, and reduced the thickness of the mammary ductal epithelium.

Conclusions

Collectively, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of nanodiamonds as a carrier of annonacin to inhibit breast cancer cell growth through inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Pharmacological Activities of Soursop (Annona muricata Lin.)

Soursop (Annona muricata Lin.) is a plant belonging to the Annonaceae family that has been widely used globally as a traditional medicine for many diseases. In this review, we discuss the traditional use, chemical content, and pharmacological activities of A.muricata. From 49 research articles that were obtained from 1981 to 2021, A.muricata’s activities were shown to include anticancer (25%), antiulcer (17%), antidiabetic (14%), antiprotozoal (10%), antidiarrhea (8%), antibacterial (8%), antiviral (8%), antihypertensive (6%), and wound healing (4%). Several biological activities and the general mechanisms underlying the effects of A.muricata have been tested both in vitro and in vivo. A.muricata contains chemicals such as acetogenins (annomuricins and annonacin), alkaloids (coreximine and reticuline), flavonoids (quercetin), and vitamins, which are predicted to be responsible for the biological activity of A.muricata.

Biomedical Effects of the Phytonutrients Turmeric, Garlic, Cinnamon, Graviola, and Oregano: A Comprehensive Review

Phytonutrients are plant foods that contain many natural bioactive compounds, called phytochemicals, which show specific biological activities. These phytonutrients and their phytochemicals may play an important role in health care maintaining normal organism functions (as preventives) and fighting against diseases (as therapeutics). Phytonutrients’ components are the primary metabolites (i.e., proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids) and phytochemicals or secondary metabolites (i.e., phenolics, alkaloids, organosulfides, and terpenes). For years, several phytonutrients and their phytochemicals have demonstrated specific pharmacological and therapeutic effects in human health such as anticancer, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and immune response. This review summarizes the effects of the most studied or the most popular phytonutrients (i.e., turmeric, garlic, cinnamon, graviola, and oregano) and any reported contraindications. This article also presents the calculated physicochemical properties of the main phytochemicals in the selected phytonutrients using Lipinski’s, Veber’s, and Ghose’s rules. Based on our revisions for this article, all these phytonutrients have consistently shown great potential as preventives and therapeutics on many diseases in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies.

The future potential of Annona muricata L. extract and its bioactive compounds as radiation sensitizing agent: proposed mechanisms based on a systematic review

Despite technological advances in cancer treatment, especially in radiotherapy, many efforts are being made in improving cancer cell radio-sensitivity to increase therapeutic ratio and overcome cancer cell radio-resistance. In the present review, we evaluated the anticancer mechanism of Annona muricata L. (AM) leaves extract and its bioactive compounds such as annonaceous acetogenins, annomuricin, annonacin, or curcumin; and further correlated them with the potential of the mechanism to increase or to reduce cancer cells radio-sensitivity based on literature investigation. We see that AM has a promising future potential as a radio-sensitizer agent.

Selective cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activity in DU-145 prostate cancer cells induced by Annona muricata L. bark extract and phytochemical, annonacin

BACKGROUND

Annona muricata L. was identified as a popular medicinal plant in treatment regimens among cancer patients in Jamaica by a previously conducted structured questionnaire. Ethnomedically used plant parts, were examined in this study against human prostate cancer cells for the first time and mechanisms of action elucidated for the most potent of them, along with the active phytochemical, annonacin.

METHODS

Nine extracts of varying polarity from the leaves and bark of A. muricata were assessed initially for cytotoxicity using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay on PC-3 prostate cancer cells and the ethyl acetate bark (EAB) extract was identified as the most potent. EAB extract was then standardized for annonacin content using High-performance Liquid Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and shown to be effective against a second prostate cancer cell line (DU-145) also. The mode of cell death in DU-145 cells were assessed via several apoptotic assays including induction of increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspases and annexin V externalization combined with morphological observations using confocal microscopy. In addition, the potential to prevent metastasis was examined via inhibition of cell migration, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis using the chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM).

RESULTS

Annonacin and EAB extract displayed selective and potent cytotoxicity against the DU-145 prostate carcinoma cells with IC50 values of 0.1 ± 0.07 μM and 55.501 ± 0.55 μg/mL respectively, without impacting RWPE-1 normal prostate cells, in stark contrast to chemotherapeutic docetaxel which lacked such selectivity. Docetaxel's impact on the cancerous DU-145 was improved by 50% when used in combination with EAB extract. Insignificant levels of intracellular ROS content, depolarization of mitochondrial membrane, Caspase 3/7 activation, annexin V content, along with stained morphological evaluations, pointed to a non-apoptotic mode of cell death. The extract at 50 μg/mL deterred cell migration in the wound-healing assay, while inhibition of angiogenesis was displayed in the CAM and VEGF inhibition assays for both EAB (100 μg /mL) and annonacin (0.5 μM).

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the standardized EAB extract and annonacin appear to induce selective and potent cell death via a necrotic pathway in DU-145 cells, while also preventing cell migration and angiogenesis, which warrant further examinations for mechanistic insights and validity in-vivo.

Effects of Annona muricata Extract on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Mediated Through EGFR Signaling

Purpose

To evaluate the antiproliferative activity and the mechanisms of action of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA) extract and one of its active fractions on BT-20 TNBC cells.

Methods

The triple-negative human breast cancer BT-20 cells were used. After the preparation and extraction of Annona muricata ethyl acetate (AMEA), the ethyl acetate extract was exposed to a preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) plate. From this preparative TLC plate, eight individual bands were collected. Each band was scraped and removed from the plate and soaked in ethyl acetate. After filtration, all eight fractions were then tested on the BT-20 TNBC cells using the MTS cell viability assay. The expressions of EGFR, p-EGFR, AKT, p-AKT, MAPK, p-MAPK, cyclin D1, and NF-κB p65 were measured using Western blot analysis.

Results

The AMEA showed a significant decrease in NF-κB p65 protein expression and BT-20 cell viability, as determined via the MTS assay. Furthermore, the AMEA was subjected to preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC), and eight fractions were obtained. From the eight fractions, only fraction 4 (F4) showed a significant reduction in cell viability in the MTS assay. Immunoblotting analysis revealed that AMEA and F4 formed an antiproliferative effect. These effects were complemented by a downregulation of cyclin D1 assembly, causing cell-cycle arrest at the G1/S phase. Furthermore, NF-κB was measured because of its involvement in the progression of cancers.

Conclusion

The antiproliferative influence is produced through EGFR-mediated signaling pathways, which include AKT, MAPK, NF-κB, and cyclin D1 inhibition. Further studies will be required to demonstrate the possible applications of this natural product in breast cancer therapy.

Modulation of cancer signalling pathway(s) in two -stage mouse skin tumorigenesis by annonacin

Background

Annonacin, an annonaceous acetogenin isolated from Annona muricata has been reported to be strongly cytotoxic against various cell lines, in vitro. Nevertheless, its effect against in vivo tumor promoting activity has not been reported yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate antitumor-promoting activity of annonacin via in vivo two-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis model and its molecular pathways involved.

Methods

Mice were initiated with single dose of 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA) (390 nmol/100 μL) followed by, in subsequent week, repeated promotion (twice weekly; 22 weeks) with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (1.7 nmol/100 μL). Annonacin (85 nM) and curcumin (10 mg/kg; reference) were, respectively, applied topically to DMBA/TPA-induced mice 30 min before each TPA application for 22 weeks. Upon termination, histopathological examination of skin, liver and kidney as well as genes and proteins expression analysis were conducted to elucidate the potential mechanism of annonacin.

Results

With comparison to the carcinogen control, Annonacin significantly increased the tumor latency period and reduced the tumor incidence, tumor burden and tumor volume, respectively. In addition, it also suppressed tumorigenesis manifested by significant reduction of hyperkeratosis, dermal papillae and number of keratin pearls on skin tissues. Annonacin also appeared to be non-toxic to liver and kidney. Significant modulation of both AKT, ERK, mTOR, p38, PTEN and Src genes and proteins were also observed in annonacin-targeted signaling pathway(s) against tumorigenesis.

Conclusions

Collectively, results of this study indicate that annonacin is a potential therapeutic compound targeting tumor promoting stage in skin tumorigenesis by modulating multiple gene and protein in cancer signaling pathways without apparent toxicity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-019-2650-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ameliorative effects of Annona muricata Linn. (Annonaceae) against potassium dichromate-induced hypertension in vivo: involvement of Kim-1/p38 MAPK/Nrf2 signaling

Background Recently, the incidences of hypertension and environmental pollution have increased significantly. This study investigates the antihypertensive effect of Annona muricata extract against K2Cr2O7-induced hypertension. Methods Fifty rats were used for this study, which were divided into five groups of 10 rats each. Rats in Group A received normal saline, and those in Groups B, C, D, and E were treated with A. muricata extract alone at 250 mg/kg, K2Cr2O7 at 30 mg/kg, pretreated with the extract at 250 mg/kg, and pretreated with gallic acid at 60 mg/kg for 14 days, respectively, and thereafter administered with a single intraperitoneal injection of K2Cr2O7 at 30 mg/kg. Results Administration of K2Cr2O7 significantly increased systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure and caused prolonged QT and QTc intervals. Further, pretreatment with the extract at 250 mg/kg and gallic acid at 60 mg/kg significantly reduced high blood pressure to near-normal values. K2Cr2O7 intoxication led to significant increases in serum advanced oxidative protein products, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase, while serum nitric oxide (NO) also reduced significantly. Immunohistochemistry of the renal kidney injury molecule (Kim-1) and p38 MAPK showed increased expressions following the administration of K2Cr2O7 together with the downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Pretreatment with the extract at 250 mg/kg and gallic acid at 60 mg/kg also increased the expressions of Nrf2 and downregulated Kim-1 and p38. Conclusion Together, we found that pretreatment with the extract at 250 mg/kg and gallic acid at 60 mg/kg normalized the blood pressure, reduced the markers of oxidative stress, and improved the antioxidant defense system and serum NO bioavailability.

In vitro anticancer activity Annona squamosa extract nanoparticle on WiDr cells

This study aimed to prepare Annona squamosa leaf extract-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (nano-ASLE) against human colon cancer (WiDr) cells. Nano-ASLE was made with ionic gelation method. Four concentrations of the nano-ASLE (50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/mL) in dimethyl sulfoxide were prepared on WiDr cells to determine the IC₅₀ value using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Then, it was divided into three groups of concentration of IC₅₀, 2IC₅₀, and 4IC₅₀ and continued with analysis of caspase-3 expression and cell cycle arrest. The results of particles size were obtained 535.1 nm and showed potent cytotoxicity with IC₅₀ 292.39 μg/mL. The expression of caspase-3 increased significantly and caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and induced apoptosis on WiDr cells. Further studies are needed to obtain the loading efficiency, release of drug concentration, and in vivo study of nano-ASLE to suppress WiDr cells.

Effect of Morinda citrifolia and Annona muricata on Erhlich Tumor Cells in Swiss Albino Mice and In Vitro Fibroblast Cells

Morinda citrifolia (MC) and Annona muricata (AM) are popularly used for the treatment of several diseases, including cancer. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of the juice of the MC fruit, and the ethanolic extract of AM leaves on Erhlich tumor cells, in mice and in vitro fibroblastic cells. The animals were divided into G1 and G2: controls; G3: treated with AM, and G4 juice: treated with MC. The animals were subjected to intraperitoneal inoculation of 10³ tumor cells and then treated with the plants. G1 and G2 received a saline solution. Cells were grown in RPMI 1640 medium, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, and maintained at 37°C in 5% CO₂ atmosphere. After growth, the cells were trypsinized and incubated again. Subsequently, serial dilution of extracts and juice was performed and incubated again for 48 h. We evaluated the ascites growth, the survival rate, and cytotoxicity in fibroblast cells. AM and MC did not interfere in the ascites pattern. MC, but not AM showed significance in the survival rate. Both AM and MC produced cytotoxicity activity in T3T cells. Despite advances in medicine, cancer is still one of the leading causes of death in the world and traditional medications are not always effective. The use of MC may bring beneficial effects to patients since they interfere with different mechanisms of action during carcinogenesis. However, we suggest that further investigations should be performed.